Mid-Michigan History: St. Louis Sugar Company

Mid-Michigan History: St. Louis Sugar Company
The St. Louis Sugar Company was organized in 1902 by attorney James K. Wright, Dr. Stiles Kennedy, and newspaperman O. M. Everden, all of St. Louis. Unable to complete construction in time to process sugar beets that year, the company was able to ship Gratiot beets to Holland, Michigan, for processing. Once the company received outside financial help, the plant, by accelerated construction, was completed on Hubbard Street in 12 weeks. It began processing beets in the fall of 1903 and could handle 600 tons of sugar beets a day.
The sugar plant generally began processing beets in October or November and continued around the clock through the winter until the last beets had been moved from the beets sheds into the plant and the final pounds of sugar had been sealed in barrels. The work was seasonal and attracted many farmers whose workload lightened during the winter and who welcomed the added income. This plant ceased operation in 1952.
ěMid-Michigan Historyî is a Morning Sun feature by local authors Jack Westbrook and Dave McMacken. McMacken, of St. Louis, has authored several books on Gratiot County history including ěDown Twelve Decades: A Pictorial History of Alma, Michigan,î ěSt. Louis at 150: The Story of the Middle of the Mitten,î and ěAlma, MI.î

The St. Louis Sugar Company was organized in 1902 by attorney James K. Wright, Dr. Stiles Kennedy, and newspaperman O. M. Everden, all of St. Louis. Unable to complete construction in time to process sugar beets that year, the company was able to ship Gratiot beets to Holland, Michigan, for processing. Once the company received outside financial help, the plant, by accelerated construction, was completed on Hubbard Street in 12 weeks. It began processing beets in the fall of 1903 and could handle 600 tons of sugar beets a day.

The sugar plant generally began processing beets in October or November and continued around the clock through the winter until the last beets had been moved from the beets sheds into the plant and the final pounds of sugar had been sealed in barrels. The work was seasonal and attracted many farmers whose workload lightened during the winter and who welcomed the added income. This plant ceased operation in 1952.

“Mid-Michigan History” is a Morning Sun feature by local authors Jack Westbrook and Dave McMacken. McMacken, of St. Louis, has authored several books on Gratiot County history including “Down Twelve Decades: A Pictorial History of Alma, Michigan,” “St. Louis at 150: The Story of the Middle of the Mitten,” and “Alma, MI.”